The Uprising (The Mamluks Saga: Episode 2) (3 page)

I smiled at her response. “Were you at the performance?”

“Yes. I was a few rows behind you, with my mother and father. Kamile was wonderful.”

I took my clothes off and got in the bed. “Yes, she was.”

We stayed silent for a moment, scanning each other’s naked bodies. Then, Lauren-Lynn reached between my legs and gently massaged. I exhaled smoothly and closed my eyes.

“Have you chosen me, Lauren-Lynn?”

“No. Not yet.”

I opened my eyes and chuckled. “You wish to see if I am to become Champion first.”

Lauren-Lynn strengthened her massage, making me groan a little. “No, Juozas. If I choose you, it will be because I love you.”

“You’ve always loved me, Lauren-Lynn. However, this is different. You know what it means to bear my child. And I will
not
be with you if your intent is to become Ruler.” 

“You don’t trust me, Juozas. I am hurt.”

“I have to question your intentions. I refuse to be forced into a political bond with my mate.”

Lauren-Lynn moved her hands up and climbed on top of me. She rubbed my chest, looking down at me with her stunning eyes. “I adore you, Juozas. Please, always remember that. I would
never
bear your child for political reasons.”

She lowered her face to mine and kissed me. I wrapped my arms around her and rolled on top of her. “As a friend, you have earned my trust; but not as mate.”

Lauren-Lynn gently touched my face. “If we are meant to be, then we will be, but for now, let us enjoy this company.”

I lay down on her breasts and closed my eyes. She rubbed my bald head and hummed the song from the performance.

No matter what happens, you will always have a place in my heart, Old Friend. 

I
opened my eyes.
This is it. Today is the day.
I took a moment to reflect as I looked out the window and watched the sky turn blue.
The next time I lay my head down to sleep, I might be doing it as Ruler of all Mamluks.

I got out of bed and took a deep breath, then I went into the bathroom and showered. Afterwards, I dried myself and put on a silk robe. I left the bathroom and found Audrey setting a tray of food on the table at the center of the room. She stood by for instructions as I walked over and took a seat at the table.

“Prepare my wardrobe, Audrey.”

She got right to it as I ate.

After eating, I got dressed and headed to the roof to meet Dalia. Like me, she was wearing a stunning dress, and greeted me with a heartwarming smile.

I got down on my knees and bowed at her feet. “Good morning, My Ruler.”

“Rise, Emily.”

I rose and looked up at her.

She gently placed her hand on my back as our ship flew in. “Come, your coronation awaits.”

We boarded the ship and took off. The traffic in the sky was jam-packed. When we got close to the stadium, I looked out the window and saw droves of ships flying in from all directions, and an enormous crowd forming around the building.

We landed near the main entrance and headed inside. As we walked, everyone moved aside, dropped to a knee and bowed their heads. I looked around at all the Mamluks, half-breeds and women, and saw many different faces and skin tones from around the world. It was awe-inspiring to see us all here, together, united as one.

Shortly after, we arrived at our seats in the front row. The arena was filled to capacity, and there were four massive, holographic screens hovering about fifty feet from the stadium floor, facing all sides.

The screens were being projected from a set of hovercrafts that were mounted on the perimeter of the arena. In the distance, I could see another series of holographic screens going around the stadium on the outside. Clearly, those screens were for the hundreds of thousands of spectators who couldn’t get in.

I checked nearby and saw Ignas a few seats up. I smiled and waved. He smiled back and gave me a kind nod. I turned and studied Dalia. She was so calm, looking on with a loving stare.

“How are you feeling, Great Dalia?”

She glanced at me and beamed. “I have ruled for a long time, Emily. To see us come this far fills my heart with joy.” She reached down and gripped my hand.

I held on tight and looked down at the stadium floor, feeling a burst of adrenaline.

Fight well, Juozas.

I
was standing in the challenger’s tunnel, waiting for the first horn to sound, listening to the crowd roar. My palms were sweating and my heart rate rapidly increased with every passing moment. I took deep breaths and tried to relax. I rolled my neck and practiced a few moves.

This is my time. My destiny. My fight to win.

Finally, the first horn went off. I faced the light at the end of the tunnel and walked forward. As I passed the darkness and stepped into the stadium, the deafening applause nearly shattered my eardrums. Still, I smiled and waved at the crowd as I marched to the center of the stadium.

At that moment, the adrenaline sparked and engrossed my body. I stood completely still and stared at the other tunnel.  Moments later, as I waited, I bounced on my feet and threw some light punches, trying to shake off some nerves. At last, the second horn sounded. 

I clenched my fist as I watched Father come out of the tunnel. He was glaring at me, disregarding the crowd. Father stopped about ten feet away. I stood tall and glared back at him. Then slowly, the crowd silenced.

The third horn sounded. The fight had begun. We started circling each other and the crowd erupted into an uproar. Father was moving carefully, walking with his hands down. I knew he was trying to lure me, so I moved in cautiously and prepared to strike. Father froze and grumbled. 

I went in for a punch but he leaned back and dodged the shot. Still, I didn’t charge him. Father’s only advantages were strength and experience. He wanted me to attack so he could grab me and pin me to the ground.

Father backed away and pretended like he wasn’t watching. I edged forward and tried to kick his leg, but he side-stepped me. Obviously, he had examined my fighting style well. Even so, all I needed was one good shot, and my speed would eventually catch up to him.

I inched close and finally caught his chin with a quick jab. The shot did nothing. Father smiled, backed away, then stood still and put his arms out.

He looked at me with seething eyes and screamed, “Attack!”

Once again, I didn’t accept the lure. Instead, I planned to toy with him until he made a mistake.

I ran at him and quickly stepped back before getting too close. Father tried to grab me but missed badly. I did it again, but this time I narrowly slid through his legs, surprising him. He tried to turn around but I got up before he could face me.

I jumped high and delivered a front kick to his face. The strike knocked him to the ground. The crowd rose like a wave in the ocean, cheering loud as I moved in. Father quickly stumbled to his feet and backed away. I attacked him with a swift combination. He tried to grab me but I was able to elude him.

I followed up with a devastating kick to his leg that buckled him. Without pause, to capitalize on his moment of weakness, I sent a vicious spinning kick to the side of his head. Father fell down again, bleeding now. The crowd went crazy as I hurried to him. I dropped a knee into his chest and battered him with punches.

Father desperately tried to get up but couldn’t. After struggling for a while, he let out a boisterous roar and finally pushed me away. I staggered backward and Father leaped forward, practically falling on me. He grabbed me and held me down. I tried to get up but he was too strong. Now the crowd was going crazy for him.

I kept trying but it was no use. Father was considerably bigger than me, and his strength was formidable. He took his time and elbowed me hard. The shot was brutal, but I kept my composure. Father went on, dropping big punches and crushing elbows. Then he got in a better position and blasted me with more punches.

I could see blood in my eyes as I tried to fight back. I punched Father’s stomach but it did nothing. He kept battering me, and I was starting to lose my awareness. The blood seeping into my eyes blinded me as I attempted to break free. I kicked my legs hard, trying to create some space. Still, nothing—but I wasn’t going to give up, and I knew Father realized my undying will.

You’re going to have to knock me unconscious to win.

M
y hands were shaking as I held onto the railing. It looked like Juozas was finished. Adomas hammered away with big punches, and I saw Juozas twist and turn with his arms and legs swinging, desperately trying to break free.
Looks like our coronation will have to wait.

But then, Juozas grabbed Adomas’s arm and held on. Adomas tried to yank his arm away but it was no use. Juozas pulled the arm down, trying to lower Adomas. After a vigorous struggle, he finally pulled him down to his level and delivered a vicious head-butt.

I jumped up and cheered. I took a huge breath and grabbed my chest. Juozas kept head-butting Adomas. They were both bleeding now. Juozas quickly let go of the arm and rocked Adomas with a stinging punch. He tumbled to the floor like a pile of bricks, and Juozas got back to his feet.

I threw my hands in the air and roared with the crowd. Dalia was still looking on calmly with her hands folded in her lap. Adomas staggered to his feet. Juozas ran at him and popped him with a flying knee. Adomas fell down again and covered up. Juozas wasted no time and bent down. He crushed Adomas with shot after shot. Adomas tried to get up but Juozas stayed on him. He looked exhausted after exerting all that energy to hold Juozas down.

By contrast, it seemed like Juozas had caught a second wind—a burst of energy—and he was moving better than before. He kicked Adomas hard, and the strike echoed throughout the arena. The sandstone floor was spotted with blood. Adomas crawled away and tried to get up again, but Juozas pushed him to the floor and kneed his back over and over.

As I watched the onslaught, I took a moment to reflect on Adomas. It was sad to see him like this, clearly just too old to keep up—but this was tradition, the passing of the torch, and it needed to be done.  Juozas kicked him like a dog as he rolled around. Every kick made a loud
thud
sound, and they looked devastating. However, I knew Adomas wouldn’t give up. He would have to be knocked out cold to lose his title. 

Juozas was taking his time now, and the crowd was cheering like the fight was already over, slowly settling down. Feeling a little relieved, I took a deep breath and sat back down.

Then, shockingly, somehow Adomas got back to his feet. The crowd gasped in amazement and rose as one. I jumped out of my seat and covered my mouth. Tears came down from my eyes as I watched Adomas wobble into the wall. He eagerly waved Juozas on and covered up, drawing his arms into his chest. Juozas came forward and kneed him hard. Adomas stood tall and took the punishment—and seconds later, he surprised Juozas with a solid punch.

The shot sent Juozas staggering backwards. My mouth dropped open. Adomas stumbled ahead and swung again, grazing Juozas’s chin. Juozas responded with a swift kick to Adomas’s ribs. They fell into each other and paused for a moment. It was utterly breathtaking to see them bloodied and battered, holding onto each other for support.
My love. My son.

Adomas grappled with Juozas and tried to take him down, but Juozas held him off as they struggled for control. Finally, they pushed off at the same time and went at it with fury, blasting each other with punches. I watched from above in total awe.
My Champion. My spawn.

S
eeing Father get up took my breath away.
I thought it was over.
Still, I wasn’t going to let my moment slip away. I went at him with an array of combinations. Father came back at me with slow punches and kicks. The only thing keeping him on his feet was his undying will to win.

I love you, Father. But I have to end this.

I caught him with a resounding uppercut, and he crumbled to the floor. His arms spread out and his eyes rolled up. Without hesitation, I dropped down and blasted him with a crushing right hand. I saw his body go limp, and in the background, I heard the crowd explode into an uproar that shook the stadium.

Father was unconscious. I had won the fight. And now,
I
was the Champion of all Mamluks.

I stayed crouched over his lifeless body in disbelief as I listened to the pandemonium. Finally, I lowered to my knees and gently lifted Father into my arms. Giedre hurried onto the stadium floor with a team of caregivers. She quickly dropped down and poured medicine into Father’s mouth. I let go of him and stepped back.

The crowd went silent as we all looked on. Then, he opened his eyes.

“Can you hear me, Adomas?” Giedre said.

He did a slow nod and gradually rolled over. The crowd cheered loudly as he slowly rose to his feet. Giedre and the others stepped back. I stood tall as Father limped towards me.

He stopped in front of me and looked into my eyes. I looked back into his eyes, hoping I had made him proud. Then, he dropped to the ground and bowed at my feet, declaring me the winner.

The crowd cheered steadily as I looked around. I found Mother in the front row with Dalia, crying, looking down on me with her hands in a ball, firmly clasped over her heart.

Father rose to his feet and gently placed his hand on my shoulder. “Congratulations, My Champion.”

My eyes watered. “It was an honor, Father.”

He moved his hand down and looked away. Father carried on, dragging himself back to the tunnel. The inauguration on Marsden would be our last encounter before he faded away completely, but that moment was hard to take.
It shouldn’t be like this. You’re still my father.

Nevertheless, I had to move on. It was now my responsibility to protect Mother.

D
alia led me downstairs to the stadium floor. I was still crying, trying to clear my eyes, trying to calm my overwhelming excitement. When I saw Juozas, I ran to him with my arms open. He opened his arms and scooped me off the floor. We hugged hard and as he spun me around.